Blue Mounds Fort
Encyclopedia
Fort Blue Mounds, also known as Blue Mounds Fort, was located in Blue Mounds
, Dane County
, Wisconsin
, USA.
on the south slope of the eastern mound of the Blue Mounds. In 1832, when word arrived that Chief Black Hawk
and his 1200 Sauk followers had crossed the Mississippi River
, it was decided to build a fort to protect the settlers.
On May 10, 1832, the construction of Fort Blue Mounds began with the help of the residents of Blue Mounds, led by the newly promoted Colonel Ebenezer Brigham. The fort was built a mile south of Eastern Mound on the highest part of the open prairie, allowing for a commanding view of the open country for miles. Those who defended the fort were able to see to the east, south, and west, with the mound bounding the northern side of the fort.
Word quickly arrived at the settlement of an engagement between Black Hawk
's group and the Illinois militia on May 14, 1832. In what was to be called the Battle of Stillman's Run
, the Illinois militia were defeated by the Indians. This, along with the closeness of the Ho-Chunk
tribe, brought fear to the settlers, and they worked quickly to complete the fort in about two weeks.
From May 20 to September 20, 1832, the settlers and miners joined General Henry Dodge's
Michigan Territory Militia
during the Black Hawk War
.
James Aubrey was the first commander at the fort, but after he was killed by the Indians on June 6, his first lieutenant
, Edward Beouchard, took command. He didn't command long before Captain John Sherman succeeded him.
, who dedicated it as a state historical site on September 5, 1921.
Through excavation, it was found that the layout of the fort was very similar to one at Apple River
in Illinois. The fort was surrounded by a picket fence about 150 feet (45.7 m) in length on each side. Its wall was made from oak trees that were about 16 or 17 feet (5.2 m) in height, with 3 foot (0.9144 m) of trunk planted in the ground. At two of the corners of the fort were 20 feet (6.1 m) square blockhouse
s. Inside the wall was a log building in the center that was 30 by 20 feet (6.1 m) that was used as a store-house and barracks
.
, sits on the site of the Fort, although it is not currently accessible by the public.
Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
Blue Mounds is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 708. The population was estimated at 766 in 2009. The village is adjacent to the Town of Blue Mounds and is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Blue...
, Dane County
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, USA.
History
The settlement of Blue Mounds was founded in 1828 by Ebenezer BrighamEbenezer Brigham
Ebenezer Brigham was a 19th century American pioneer, businessman and politician. He was one of the first Americans to explore southwestern Wisconsin and the first permanent settler in present-day Dane County, Wisconsin...
on the south slope of the eastern mound of the Blue Mounds. In 1832, when word arrived that Chief Black Hawk
Black Hawk (chief)
Black Hawk was a leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe in what is now the United States. Although he had inherited an important historic medicine bundle, he was not one of the Sauk's hereditary civil chiefs...
and his 1200 Sauk followers had crossed the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, it was decided to build a fort to protect the settlers.
On May 10, 1832, the construction of Fort Blue Mounds began with the help of the residents of Blue Mounds, led by the newly promoted Colonel Ebenezer Brigham. The fort was built a mile south of Eastern Mound on the highest part of the open prairie, allowing for a commanding view of the open country for miles. Those who defended the fort were able to see to the east, south, and west, with the mound bounding the northern side of the fort.
Word quickly arrived at the settlement of an engagement between Black Hawk
Black Hawk (chief)
Black Hawk was a leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe in what is now the United States. Although he had inherited an important historic medicine bundle, he was not one of the Sauk's hereditary civil chiefs...
's group and the Illinois militia on May 14, 1832. In what was to be called the Battle of Stillman's Run
Battle of Stillman's Run
The Battle of Stillman's Run, also known as the Battle of Sycamore Creek or the Battle of Old Man's Creek, occurred on May 14, 1832. The battle was named for Major Isaiah Stillman and his detachment of 275 Illinois militia which fled in a panic from a large number of Sauk warriors. According to...
, the Illinois militia were defeated by the Indians. This, along with the closeness of the Ho-Chunk
Ho-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
tribe, brought fear to the settlers, and they worked quickly to complete the fort in about two weeks.
From May 20 to September 20, 1832, the settlers and miners joined General Henry Dodge's
Henry Dodge
Henry Dodge was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, Territorial Governor of Wisconsin and a veteran of the Black Hawk War. His son was Augustus C. Dodge with whom he served in the U.S. Senate, the first, and so far only, father-son pair to serve concurrently....
Michigan Territory Militia
Michigan Territory Militia
The Michigan Territory Militia was the predecessor to the Michigan Army National Guard and existed as an entity concurrent with Michigan Territory's existence in the United States.-Pre-territorial militias:...
during the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
.
James Aubrey was the first commander at the fort, but after he was killed by the Indians on June 6, his first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
, Edward Beouchard, took command. He didn't command long before Captain John Sherman succeeded him.
Archaeology
The site of the original fort was owned by Colonel Brigham's descendants until it was donated to the Wisconsin Historical SocietyWisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society is simultaneously a private membership and a state-funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West...
, who dedicated it as a state historical site on September 5, 1921.
Through excavation, it was found that the layout of the fort was very similar to one at Apple River
Apple River Fort
Apple River Fort, today known as Apple River Fort State Historic Site, was one of many frontier forts hastily completed by settlers in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin following the onset of the 1832 Black Hawk War. Located in present-day Elizabeth, Illinois, United States, the fort at the...
in Illinois. The fort was surrounded by a picket fence about 150 feet (45.7 m) in length on each side. Its wall was made from oak trees that were about 16 or 17 feet (5.2 m) in height, with 3 foot (0.9144 m) of trunk planted in the ground. At two of the corners of the fort were 20 feet (6.1 m) square blockhouse
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
s. Inside the wall was a log building in the center that was 30 by 20 feet (6.1 m) that was used as a store-house and barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
.
Today
On May 22, 2010, the Blue Mounds Fort marker was rededicated following a three-year fundraising effort by the Blue Mounds Area Historical Society. The marker, which was cleaned up and re-mounted on a chert boulder donated by Blue Mound State ParkBlue Mound State Park
Blue Mound State Park is a state park of Wisconsin, USA, located atop the largest hill in the southern half of the state, near the village of Blue Mounds...
, sits on the site of the Fort, although it is not currently accessible by the public.
External links
- Term: Brigham, Ebenezer 1789 - 1861," Dictionary of Wisconsin History, Wisconsin State Historical Society. Retrieved 14 August 2007
- Barton, Albert O. "Echoes of the Black Hawk War", Wisconsin Magazine of History, 16: 4 (1932–1933). Retrieved 14 August 2007.
- Dictionary of Wisconsin History
- "Rounding up its rich past"
- Sauk and the Black Hawk War